Flatiron rest



d. 26, 1 9 3- i r. J. OCONNOR 2,332,745

FLAT IRON REST Filed Nov. 11,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Thomas]? OCozuwa Oct. 26, 1943. T. J. O'CONNOR 2,332,745

FLAT IRON REST Filed Nov. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7710114251 0 fCbzuaor.

Patented Oct. 26,

UNITED STATE- S PATENT OFFICE FLATIRON REs'r Thomas Jerome O'Connor, Charleston, W. Ya. Application November 11, 1941, Serial No. 418,027

15 Claims.

My invention relates to flat irons and more particularly to an improved rest arrangement for flat irons and the like.

Heretofore, it has been suggested to provide rest devices for pressing irons whereby, when the iron is not in use, its ironing surface is supported away from and in spaced relationship with reof the ironing board, when the iron is not in use. 1

spect to the surface of the ironing board or table.

It has been proposed, for example, to attach a bracket at the side or rear of the iron in the vicinity of the handle, designed to support the ironing surface out of contact with the surface of the ironing board, when the iron is turned to rest position. It has also been proposed to use retractable rest devices, mounted upon the body portion of the iron, constructed and arranged to raise the iron so that its ironing surface is clear of the board.

While the prior art arrangements no doubt function satisfactorily for their intended purposes, they are open to certain objections which are inherent in their construction. Pressing irons equipped with rest devices in the form of a stationary bracket or other support member attached to the side or end portions of the iron, are awkward to handle for the reason that the rest obstructs the operator view of the surface to be pressed and they further require that the iron be lifted slightly before it can be turned to the rest position. Irons having a retractable rest arrangement usually require some modification of the ironing surface to accommodate the rests when they are in the retracted position. The operator is required to manipulate a button, trigger, or

other element to release the rests and force must be exerted upon the iron by the operator, in order to return the rests to the retracted position.

After considerable research and experimentation, I have developed an improved rest device for pressing irons, which overcomes the deficiency of the prior ,art devices referred to above,

and one that possesses everal advantages not found in the heretofore suggested fiat iron rest arrangements, of which I am aware. In accordance with the present invention, the rest device comprises a gravity actuated support arm, normally positioned within the body of the iron, and adapted to project outwardly therefrom and support the ironing surface clear of the surface of the ironing board, when the iron is rolled or turned on its side to the rest position.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved rest device for flat irons and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rest arrangement for fiat irons, designed to permit free and unobstructive-view of the surface to be pressed, when the iron is in use. a J I Yet another object of my invention is to pro- Still-another object of my invention is to provide a rest device for flat irons and the like, wherein the'rest is automatically brought into operative supporting position when the iron is rolled or turned on its side.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rest device adapted for use with conventional types of flat irons, which is strong and sturdy in construction, consisting of but few parts and not liable to get out of order, even after long and continued use.

With these and other objects in view, which maybe incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements,

comprising my invention, may bevaried in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly Figure l is a rear view of a flat iron, with parts broken away, showing the rest arrangement of the present invention, associated with the iron.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the iron shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the iron when tilted to a position intermediat the work and rest portions.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1', showing the iron in the rest position; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partlyin section, showing the interior of the iron.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a pressing iron or fiat-iron comprising a body portion designated generally by numeral I, having a base or sole plate 2, formed with an ironing surface 3. A cover member 4, adapted to seat on the base 2, encloses the body of the iron and also forms a support for a handle 5. The handle is attached to a suitable bracket 8, having legs I and 8 at the front and rear of the iron, the bracket and cover being clamped in operative position by means of a bolt 9 threadable into the base or other part of the body portion of the iron; A heating element It, as shown, is mounted within a recess formed in the sole plate, however. it will be understood that the heating unit may be formed integral with the plate or otherwise attached thereto in accordance with conventional practice. A weight member N (Fig. forming the body portion of the iron, is of substantially the same configuration as the sole plate and may b held in position thereon by the bolts 8 Or other fastening means.

The improved rest arrangement of the present invention comprises a weight or pendulum member l2, swingably supported on a plat or bracket l3 adapted to seat in a recess formed in the body portion II, the pendulum being pivotally mounted upon the bracket for free swinging movement under the influence of gravity, by means of a pin ll extending through the arms l5 and I6 (Fig. 5) of the bracket. It will be noted that the peripheral edge H of member I2 is cut away to form a recessed portion l8, and that adjacent this member in spaced relation thereto, there is provided a freely swingable pawl l9 pivotally mounted on bracket l3 by means of a pin 20. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a stop device to maintain the pendulum in fixed position or release the same under certain conditions, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

' the form of an enlarged button of suiiicient area to provide a firm rest or support for member 2|, when this member is in extended position, and

' also to cover the opening in the side of the iron.

A suitable guide and bearing member 24, which may be in the form of'a square or an annular ring, is mounted interiorly of the housing adjacent the opening through which the free end of arm 2| projects. Member 24 functions as a combined guide and bearing member, that is to say, it serves as a guide to direct arm 2| outwardly at the desired angle and it also serves as a support for the arm when it is in the retracted or extended position.

In connection with the arrangement of the rest arm and guide ring, it will be noted that arm 2| is inclined upwardly from the horizontal in the vicinity of its free end and that the inner peripheral edge 25 of guide ring 24 is formed with a curvature such that it permits the arm to move transversely of the opening in tangential relation with the inner periphery of the annulus. The purpose of this arrangement is to initially direct the arm outwardly and upwardly so that may be formed from wood or plastic material, is

provided with a thumb rest 28. at the forward end thereof, edge 21 of the rest projecting outwardly from the surface of the handle.- The rear portion of the handle is also provided with a rest 28. adapted to support the heel portion of the operator's hand, edge 29 of the rest extending outwardly from the handle a distance substantially equal to the width of the thumb rest.

In the operation of the device, when the iron is in the work position as shown in Fig. 1, pendulum l2 assumes an approximately vertical position, with end portion of the pawl I9 resting against the peripheral edge H of the pendulum, arm

member 2| in the retracted position interiorly of the iron housing, and button 23 drawn inwardly in the vicinity of the exterior surface of the housing 4. When it is desired to place the iron in the rest position, 'it is merely necessary to tilt or roll it by means of handle 5 so that it assumes the position shown in Fig. 4. In the rest position of the iron, arm 2| is projected or extended through the housing with button 23 in contact with the underlying surface 30, through the medium of pendulum l2. After the arm has been fully extended to the position shown, the free end of pawl member I9 is seated in the recessed portion 3 of the peripheral edge of the Pendulum, thereby preventing inwardmovement of the Pe dulum and arm 2|. Thumb rest 26, and the rest provided for the heel portion of the operator's hand, not shown, also contact with the underlying surface to provide a three-point support for the iron with the ironing surface 3, raised out of contact with and in spaced relation to the underlying surface. It will be particularly noted.

that the rests formed on the handle member 5 are of sufficient length to elevate the handle from the underlying surface, when the iron is .in the rest position, so that the operator can conveniently grasp the handle when the iron is to be turned to work position. i v

In the reverse movement of the iron to return it to work position the elements operate in a reverse manner, that is to say, during the initial movement of the iron in a clockwise direction from its position as shown in Fig. 4, pawl member I9 is designed to move away from the recess ahead of or prior to movement of pendulum l2, thus releasing the pendulum so that it can move inwardly and withdraw the rest arm 2| to the retracted position. The relative position of the pawl and weight, during movement from rest to work positions is more clearly shown in Fig. 3. Referring to this figure, it will be noted that pawl |9,, under the influence of gravity, is moving out of the recess and further movement of the iron in the direction indicated permits the pendulum |2 to assume a vertical position and withdraw the rest arm.

As heretofore noted the end portion of the rest arm is inclined slightly upwardly from the horizontal and the inner peripheral edge of the combined guide and bearing member 24 is shaped to permit tangential engagement of the lowerv surface of the rest arm 2|, during its movement transversely of the body of the iron. It will be readilytappreciated that by means of this arrangement sidewise drift or floating of the rest arm will be restrained when it is in the retracted position, while the iron is at work.

In order to prevent button 23 from hammering or forcibly striking against cover member I, when the iron is tilted to withdraw rest arm 2| to the retracted position, there is provided a stop arrangement comprising a screw 32, threadable into weight member H and maintained in the desired adjusted position by means of a lock nut 33.

It will be understood that the rest actuating mechanism can be operatively supported within shown for purposes of illustration, the bodypor tion ll (Fig. is cored or milled out to form aslot to accommodate the rest mechanism, the.

top of the weight I I being recessed to receive the bracket or support plate It, which is held in position within the recess by screws 3|, or other suitable fastening means.

In accordance with thepresent invention, it will now be appreciated thatI have provided an improved rest arrangementfor pressing irons and the like, wherein the-rest member, used to support the ironing surface above the underlying surface, is automatically extended to operative position or withdrawn to its normally retracted position, by merely tilting or rollingthe iron in the desired direction. By means of the design of the arm actuating pendulum and associated pawl, together with the combined guide and bearing member for the rest arm, the device'operates freely and easily with minimum effort on the part of the operator.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustrations as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pressing iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the surface to be pressed, comprising a gravity actuated retractable rest member mounted interiorly of the body of the iron and adapted for sliding movement with respect thereto, said rest being normally seated in retracted position within the body of the iron and adapted tomove outwardly therefrom when the iron is moved to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in iron supporting position.

2. In a pressing iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the surface to be pressed, comprising a retractable rest member mounted interiorly of the iron and adapted for sliding movement transversely thereof, said rest being normally's'eated in the retracted position within the body of the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is tilted to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position.

3. An improved rest for flat irons and the like, adapted to support an iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported within the body portion of the iron, an arm member having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum and adapted for sliding movement transversely of the body of the iron, said arm being normally seated in retracted position within the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and

maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position.

4. An improved rest for flat irons and the like adapted to support an iron when not in use, with its-ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported within the body portion of the iron, an

arm member having, one end pivotally attached to the pendulum and adapted for sliding movement transversely of the body of the iron, said arm being normally seated in retracted position within the ironand adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is tiltedto rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position, comprising a pawl pivotally mounted interiorly of the iron in the vicinity of the pendulum, the free end of said pawl engaging with the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

5. An improved rest for flat irons and the like, adapted to support an iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported within the body portion of the iron, said pendulum having a recess formed in its peripheral edge adapted to receive one end of a pawl, an arm member having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum and adapted for a sliding movement transversely of the body of the iron, said arm being normally seated in retracted position within the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is tilted to rest posi-' tion, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position, comprising a pawl pivotally mounted interiorly of the iron in the vicinity of the swingable pendulum, the free end of said pawl engaging with the recessed portion of the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

6. In a pressing iron, including a body portion having an ironing fsurface, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the surface to be pressed, comprising a retractable rest having one end thereof pivotally attached to a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the iron and adapted for sliding movement transversely of the body of the iron, said rest being normally seatedv in the retracted position within the body of the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under .the influence of gravity when the iron is tilted to extended iron supporting position.

7. In a pressing iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the surface to be pressed, comprising a retractable rest having one end thereof pivotally attached to a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the iron, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position with its free end substantially flush with the exterior surface of the body of the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position comprising a pawl pivotally mounted interiorly of the body of the iron in the inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

8. Ini a pressing iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the surface to be pressed, comprising a retractable rest having one end thereof pivotally attached to a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the iron,.said pendulum having a recess formed in its peripheral edge adapted to receive one end of a pawl, the rest being normally seated in the retracted position with its free end substantially flush with the exterior surface of the body of the iron and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position, comprising a pawl pivotally mounted interiorly of the body of the iron in the vicinity of the swingable pendulum, the free end ment thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

9. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the member formed thereon, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position within the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position.

10. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, a retractable rest member having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum, the free end of said member extending through an opening in one side of thehousing and having a foot member formed thereon, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position within the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position comprising a pawl pivotally mounted interiorly of the housingin the vicinity of the swingable pendulum, the free end of said pawl engaging with the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

11. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, said pendulum having a recess formed in its peripheral edge adapted to receive one end of a pawl, a retractable rest member having one end pivotally attached to the-pendulum, the

free end of said member extending through an opening in one side of the housing and having a foot member formed thereon, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position within assaus the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position, comprising a, .pawl pivotally mounted interiorly 'of' the housing in the vicinity of the swingable pendulum, the free end of said pawl engaging with the recessed portion of the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

12. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a. pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, a retractable rest member having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum, the free end of said member extending through an opening in one side of the housing and having a foot member formed thereon, a combined guide and bearing member for the retractable rest mounted interiorly of the iron housing adjacent the opening through which the free end of the rest projeots, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position within the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position.

13. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with'the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, said pendulum having a recess formed in its peripheral edge adapted to receive one end of a, pawl, a retractable rest member having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum, the free end of said member extending through an opening in one side of the housing and having a foot member formed thereon, a combined guide and bearing member for the rest mounted interiorly of the iron housing adjacent the opening through which the free endof the rest projects,

said rest being normally seated in the retractedposition within the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position, comprising a pawl'pivotally mounted interiorly of the housing in the vicinity of the swingable pendulum, the free end of said pawl engaging with the recessed portion of the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position.

14. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, a, retractable rest member comprising a body portion having one end pivotally attached to the pendulum, the free end thereof extending through an opening in one side of the housing and having a foot member formed thereon, the end portion of the retractable rest in the vicinity of its free end being inclined upwardly with respect to the horizontal in retracted position, said rest being normally seated in the retracted position within the housing and adapted to move outwardly therefrom under the influence of gravity when the iron is turned to rest position, and

means to maintain the rest in extended iron supporting position.

15. In a flat iron, including a body portion having an ironing surface and a housing for the body portion, means to support the iron when not in use, with its ironing surface out of contact with the underlying surface, comprising a pendulum swingably supported interiorly of the housing, said pendulum having a recess formed in its peripheral edge adapted to receive one end of a'pawl, a retractable rest member having one end pivotally attached-to the pendulum, the free end of said member extending through an opening in the housing, the end portion of the re tractable rest in the vicinity of its free end being inclined upwardly with respect to the horizontal in retracted position, a combined guide of the pendulum and preventing inward movement thereof when the iron is in the rest position, v

THOMAS JEROME O'CONNOR. 

